In partnership with the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC), U.S. Air Forces Africa, will take part in MEDLITE 11 in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) from April 24 - May 4, 2011.

MEDLITE 11 is a joint medical exercise focused on aeromedical evacuation. The exercise will improve the readiness of both countries' medical personnel and will consist of classroom instruction, a mass casualty exercise, and aeromedical evacuation training.

The goal of MEDLITE 11 is to enhance U.S. and Congolese capabilities to work together by introducing the U.S. Aeromedical Evacuation system of patient movement to the Congolese military medical personnel. The ultimate goal is to increase the DRC humanitarian assistance capacity to rapidly treat the acutely injured and/or ill and decrease mortality rates.

MEDLITE 11 is the latest in a series of exercises involving U.S. military forces and partner militaries in Africa with the aim to establish and develop military interoperability, regional relationships, synchronization of effort and capacity-building.

Approximately 50 U.S. military personnel and 150 Congolese military personnel will participate in MEDLITE 11. Congolese forces participating in the exercise include the Medical Immediate Response Unit (UMIR) of the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

U.S. forces participating in the exercise include U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), U.S. Air Forces Africa, Air National Guard Bureau, 165th Airlift Wing, 137th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron, 105th Medical Group, 109th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron, 143rd Medical Group, 145th Medical Group, 187th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron, 167th Medical Group, 174th Medical Group, 182nd Medical Group and Defense Media Activity Ramstein.

U.S. Air Forces Africa, headquartered at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, is the Air Force component to the United States Africa Command, the U.S. regional command that oversees and coordinates U.S. military activities in Africa.